Pippen was born in Belfast and was the elder of his family’s two children – the second being his sister Trish,

In his early days did not conform to the normal path followed by most young school-leavers, because trying to find a regular job was just not for him. His ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit were very evident, even as far back as then.

He left school around the time of the introduction of unleaded petrol, and as the many local garages and filling stations were faced with the unusual problem of changing the panels and signs at the pumps to reflect this new offering – a seventeen year old Pippen came to their rescue and visited just about every petrol station in the country, offering to design and create the new panels and livery they’d be needing, even offering to carry out the installation work for them as well, all for a very reasonable fee of course!

And just like that, Pippen became, and continued to be for his entire life, a self-employed, entrepreneurial businessman, who could recognise and satisfy a gap in pretty much any market he looked closely enough at.

He progressed from filling stations to working on the cars themselves, and whether it was carrying our repairs to damaged body and paint work, or respraying the whole vehicle – he very quickly established himself as the “go to” person for another of the many niche markets he would go on to discover, and this successful venture lasted from his early twenties to his mid-thirties.

Although his body and respray work was successful – by this time, he’d had enough and needed a new challenge – and in true Pippen style, he very much found this new challenge.

Because, out of the blue, his life took a pretty major and very unusual change of direction – he sold up and moved from Northern Ireland to Canada, where he began training to become a commercial airline pilot, which of course he succeeded in doing. A year in Canada followed by nine years in America, saw this new life as a commercial pilot taking him on another whirlwind series of adventures – as well as being a commercial freight delivery pilot, he also spent some time towing advertising banners, he did some crop dusting, followed by a spell of towing and releasing gliders – and this aviation adventure saw him eventually becoming a corporate Leer Jet Pilot, working exclusively for an American business owner – a chauffeur in the sky!

Although he loved his time as a pilot, once again, he needed a change, and in his early forties, he moved back to Northern Ireland, to Portadown to be exact, and set about coming up with yet another venture to keep him busy – and “Pippen McGrath Airbrushing” was born!

His skill as an airbrush artist saw his work go, literally, all over the world! If anyone had anything that needed to look better than it did – “Pippen McGrath Airbrushing” would sort that out with amazing results – and there are so many images of Pippen’s airbrushing work on the internet – airbrushing motorbikes, or helmets, or fashion accessories – if something needed to look better, Pippen was your man! And it’s amazing to think that this highly successful chapter of his life was, once again, came about by simply identifying a niche that he could not only satisfy, but excel in, and make a very successful business venture out of.

Although there had been so many events and different chapters in Pippen’s life – without doubt the most significant one happened in 2017, and that was when he met someone very special for the very first time and, in true understated fashion, they simply enjoyed a coffee together in the café in Asda – and that’s when he and Carol met for the very first time – and it was love at first sight for both of them, changing their lives indescribably from that moment onwards!

It was clear to both Pippen and Carol right from the beginning, that this was the start of something very special – and that’s exactly what it turned out to be, they became inseparable for the next seven years and, after first moving in together in Ballykelly, they eventually moved to Coleraine, culminating in that wonderful day when they  became husband and wife, in Coleraine harbour onboard the “Grace Patterson Ritchie”!

Just because he was now part of a loving and lasting relationship, it didn’t stop that entrepreneurial spirit in him from resurfacing again – and that’s exactly what happened, because during this period two new ventures had appeared in his business portfolio – “PMG Marine” and “Pippen’s Wind Deflectors”!

The marine venture saw him work on and completely revitalise so many boats and vessels, (including the one he and Carol were married on), and the Wind Deflectors for the luxury car sector, which he still produced until very recently, which again went worldwide, and will ensure that his name will be seen around the globe for many years to come!

Here is where his dedication to the SLK Owners Club started, from being a founder member of the club, he applied his entrepreneurial expertise and started attracting members from around the world building the club into one of the most respected Mercedes clubs worldwide. Then in true Pippen style he saw another niche to supply, fed up of people posting about poor wind deflectors he decided he would make his own and personalise them to peoples requirements. Hence Pippen’s Wind Deflectors became legendary in the SLK world and every time we look in that rear view mirror and see those beautifully engraved Perspex wind deflectors Pippen will always be in our hearts and thoughts, and I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to him. Pippen took the club from strength to strength always playing an active part on the admin team and the admin team meeting were always good fun as Pippen usually turned up on screen in some wonderful headgear, his favourite being a top hat of various varieties.

And if you think what I’ve described from Pippen’s life so far has been amazing – I can also tell you about another chapter in his life that might surprise some of you – Pippen was lead singer and lead guitarist in a couple of Punk Bands back in the day – X-PDC and Straw Dogs!

And, although it might look like he wouldn’t have time for hobbies or pastimes – of course, knowing Pippen as you all do, you absolutely know that he had…

…and as well as looking after his two cats, he enjoyed some drone filming, but without doubt he has enjoyed, in his words, the best hobby ever, his work!

And as for his favourite pastime, again that was an easy one for him to recall– spending time with Carol, enjoying a glass of wine and listening to Queen songs together, is without doubt, the absolute best of all possible times for him – and for Carol.

Pippen has had a full and amazing life – and he has never shied away from the many challenges that he’s had to deal with, particularly in the last chapter of his life that has seen him coming to terms with, and coping so bravely with, the awful terminal illness that took over both of their lives.

But through all of that final journey, Pippen was amazing – he faced up to his fate with incredible dignity, and was, quite inspirational!

Even when that final diagnosis made it clear that there wouldn’t be any positive long-term outcome from all of the various intrusive treatments that were being proposed – Pippen decided that he would rather be in control of how the final chapter of his life would play out. He was determined to make those final months, weeks and days as special as he could – not in a hospital bed, but at home with Carol, still able to enjoy their time together in their own, very special way.

Pippen has left a big hole in his family, his community and the club. Although he may be gone and no longer be a visible part of the club, he will not be forgotten as we will forever be in his debt for his dedication, passion and drive that has taken the club to where it is today, one of the most respected clubs in the Mercedes World, we often turn out more cars than the official owners club and all from a single model, that is an amazing achievement and down to Pippen and the founder members in the Clubs early years.

Sleep easy my good friend we are forever in your debt, and you will be forever in our hearts.